“Tonight, I voted with nearly every single Senate Republican to keep our government open and fund our servicemembers, veterans, seniors, and children who depend on CHIP.

“Unfortunately, nearly every single Senate Democrat, led by Senators Schumer and Durbin, have been determined to shut down the government, and they got what they wanted. Their cynical, partisan political ploy will have real-world consequences for hardworking families in North Carolina and across our nation.

“One of the most egregious parts of the Democrats’ shutdown is their counterproductive demands on immigration policy.

“Since last year, I’ve been working on a solution that would provide long-term certainty for DACA recipients and effectively secure our borders once and for all. Even though we’re closer than ever to a deal and Congress has until March 5th to provide a solution for DACA youth, Democrats instead chose to create an arbitrary deadline to justify their decision to shut down the government. Their shutdown will not be helpful in getting a bipartisan deal to the President’s desk.

“The only way this shutdown will end is if my Democratic colleagues will come to their senses and stop trying to score political points at the expense of the American people. I hope they will soon.”